Sumlin on USC’s list to replace Kiffin?

COLLEGE STATION – Last December, the Texas A&M program was directly impacted by Tommy Tuberville abruptly leaving Texas Tech for Cincinnati. That’s because the Red Raiders quickly hired then-Aggies offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury as their new head coach following a prolific season by the Aggies’ offense.

Now, A&M fans are keeping a wary eye on another abrupt action a bit further out west, as Southern California athletic director Pat Haden fired coach Lane Kiffin this morning, after the Trojans have lost seven of their last 11 games.

Now, A&M second-year coach Kevin Sumlin has been mentioned as “near the top of USC’s list,” according to someone who should know: CBSSports.com’s Bruce Feldman, who recently spent a week alongside Sumlin and the Aggies in the Bright Football Complex leading up to the A&M-Alabama game.

Feldman wrote today, “Sumlin … last season led the Aggies to their first top-five finish in 56 seasons. Sumlin’s proven to be an excellent leader and recruiter. Sumlin, who turned down chances at the UCLA head coaching job a year and a half ago, was courted by several NFL teams last offseason and will be again this winter. He also just moved into a massive new home last month he built near Texas A&M.”

Feldman, who mentioned Sumlin first on a potential USC list, also noted Boise State’s Chris Petersen and Washington’s Steve Sarkisian as potential candidates, among others. The Aggies are off this Saturday following their 45-33 victory over Arkansas on Saturday night, and will next play at Ole Miss on Oct. 12.

My understanding is Sumlin will hold his weekly press conference on Tuesday despite the Saturday off, and you can bet he will field a question about the USC gig at that time.